Cardiff Astronomical Society

CARDIFF ASTRONOMICAL SOCIETY

HANDBOOK 2002-2003

Introduction 3 Committee 2002-2003 4 - 5 The Bill Sutherland Award 5 Programme 2002-2003 6 - 7 Constitution 7 - 8 Rules 9 - 10 Telescopes 11 Library 11 Data Protection Act 11 Observing Site 12 Where To Find Us 13

INTRODUCTION

Cardiff Astronomical Society was founded in July 1975 by Dr Bob Owens and Dave Powell at an out of London meeting of the British Astronomical Association held at Dyffryn Gardens. They are both still members today as the Society continues to develop its activities supported by a very active and enthusiastic committee. Membership has increased to over 200 and is drawn from a wide geographical area South and South West Wales, and into the West Country. Despite the travelling involved members attending meetings usually number over 60 and on several occasions during the year this number will reach over 100. Meetings are held on alternate Thursday evenings September to July at University of Wales College Cardiff, beginning at 7:30pm. UWCC has a world class astronomy and physics department and the Society receives tremendous support from everyone there led by our own President Professor Mike Disney. The programme is varied comprising of lectures, short talks and debates. The aim is to cater for all interests at whatever level, beginner or advanced. The Society is able to attract the very best speakers from all over the UK. We hold regular observing evenings at one of two designated sites where members can look up at the night sky with the help of more experienced observers and some of the telescopes owned by the Society. For those who need help there is a naked eye sky tour to start the night off. A comprehensive library is available for use by all members and telescopes can be borrowed by arrangement. We publish a regular newsletter that gives information on forthcoming events, activities, current phenomena etc. All members are invited to contribute. The Society is frequently featured in locally made science education programmes on television and radio and we are actively involved with national events such as Science Week and at Techniquest Discovery Centre in Cardiff Bay. The map on page 13 shows the location of the venue. It is easy to get to and close to bus and train routes. Ample car parking is available nearby. If in doubt contact any Committee member (phone numbers on page 4 & 5). Please make every effort to attend - it is encouraging for speakers to have a large audience and makes it easier for the Society to attract the best.

Subscription: Adults £13.50 Juniors £2.50 Family £18.50

Subscriptions are due on September 1st and prompt payment is appreciated.

A warm and friendly welcome promised for all!!

COMMITTEE 2002-2003

PRESIDENT VICE-PRESIDENT Professor M J Disney FRAS Professor M Edmunds Professor of Observational Astronomy Astrophysics Group Astrophysics Group, Department of Physics Department of Physics University of Wales College of Cardiff University of Wales College of Cardiff

CHAIRMAN VICE-CHAIRMAN Peter Bennett Martin Chick 6 Church Close, Llantwit Fardre. Myddlyn CF38 2NW. Tel 01443 - 203247 Clôs Cefn Glas Rowan Gardens SECRETARY Llantwit Fardre David Powell CF38 2BS 1 Tal-y-Bont Road Tel 01443 206594 Ely, Cardiff. CF5 5EU Mobile 07971 547820 Tel 029 - 2055 1704 e-mail [email protected] Mobile 07803 744548 TREASURER ASSISTANT SECRETARY Bob Pulverness Jackie Rudd 20 New Road, 19 Norris Close,Penarth, Rumney, Cardiff. CF3 3AA. Vale Of Glamorgan. CF64 1QW. Tel 029 - 2079 1830 Tel 029 - 2030 9979 e-mail [email protected]

PUBLICATIONS OFFICER ASSISTANT TREASURER Ian Davies Richard Rudd 13 Lon Ysgybor, Rhiwbina, 19 Norris Close, Penarth, Cardiff. CF14 6SF. Vale Of Glamorgan. CF64 1QW. Tel 029 - 2065 7822 Tel 029 - 2030 9979 e-mail [email protected] e-mail [email protected]

PUBLICITY OFFICER DIRECTOR of OBSERVATIONS/ Theresa Cooper Norman Jenkins 8 Nant Lais, Corntwn, Bro Morgannwg Garth View, Peterston Road (Corntown, Vale of Glamorgan). CF35 5SA Groesfaen, PONTYCLUN. CF72 8NU. Tel. 01656 646920 or 023 8023 5664 Tel 01446 - 760002 e-mail [email protected] e-mail [email protected]

MEMBERSHIP SECRETARY CURATOR of INSTRUMENTS Chris Chambers David Jenkins Tel 07870 368 632 43 Eastfield Road Caerleon, Gwent. NP18 3FU Tel 01633 421 984 e-mail [email protected]

COMMITTEE 2002-2003

UNIVERSITY LIAISON OFFICER/ LIBRARIAN DARK SKY CO-ORDINATOR Joan Thomas Hugh Lang 166 Albany Road 85 Heol Hir Roath, Cardiff. CF24 3RW. Llanishen, Cardiff. CF4 5AB. Tel 029 - 2049 7594 Tel 029 2075 4211 e-mail [email protected] e-mail [email protected] [email protected] COMMITTEE MEMBER Christopher Hallam PUBLIC EVENTS ORGANISER 46 Torrens Drive Edwin Jennings Cardiff, CF23 6DS 11 Cypress Place Tel 029 2075 1212 Fairwater Cardiff COMMITTEE MEMBER CF5 3LN Anthony Briddon Tel 029 2056 0213 32 Highmead Road, Ely e-mail [email protected] Cardiff CF5 4GU. Tel 029 2065 1958 JUNIOR REP email [email protected] Rachel Douglas - Jones 57 Heath Park Ave, Heath Cardiff. CF14 3RF 029 2075 0721 e-mail [email protected]

THE BILL SUTHERLAND AWARD This award was set up in memory of Bill Sutherland an early member of CAS, who passed away in 1990. It is awarded each year at the AGM, to a CAS member who has shown outstanding enthusiasm for astronomy and the Society. Work for the award can be of any astronomical or Society nature and may include (but not exclusively) things like observational drawings, photographs, CCD images, newsletter articles, Talks given to the Society. Obviously some work comes to the attention of the awarding committee automatically (such as a newsletter article), other work by its nature may need to brought to the attention of the awarding committee by it author (e.g. photographs). Remember we are not necessarily looking for technical excellence but rather enthusiasm for astronomy and CAS, so enter your work for consideration for this award.

6 Cardiff Astronomical Society Program 2002/2003 2002 5th September The Origin of the Elements Prof Mike Edmunds. of Life. University of Cardiff. 19th September The moon versus the clock. Dr Allan Chapman. University of Oxford. 3rd.October The Asteroid Threat. Hon.Lembit Opik .MP. 17th.October Current space projects Prof Ken Pounds. University of Leicester. 31st October Indoor Astronomy, How to Dr Lilian Hobbs. control the 12inch LX200 Eastleigh, Hampshire. 14th. November The Beagle 2 mission to Mars Prof Colin Pillinger . Open University. 28th. November Infrared Astronomy mainly Dr Helen Walker. with Satellites Rutherford Appleton Laboratory, Didcot, Oxford. 12th December Dwarf galaxies and Cosmology Dr Jon Davies. University of Cardiff. 2003 9th January Did a Comet hit the Earth Dr D Ward Thompson. in AD536. University of Cardiff. 23rd January The Naked Astronomer Jonathan Powell. Abergavenny. 6th. February Black Hole Jets. Dr Diana Worrall University of Bristol. 20th. February Meteorites Dr Helen Walker. Natural History Museum. London. 6th. March Deep sky observing projects. Dr Nick Hewett. Northhamptonshire 20th March The colours of stars. Mr Peter Grossi. Cardiff Astronomical Society. 3rd April Galaxies and A.G.N.S. Dr Chris Baddiley. Malvern Worcs. 17th April Annual General Meeting. 1st May Cosmology for beginners. Dr Rodney Hillier. University of Bristol. 15th May Aurora Neil Bone Astronomy Now. Chichester West Sussex. 29th May Throughout the Pink Mr Nick Hart Cardiff Astronomical society. 12th. June Exploration of the Moon Dr Mike Leggett. Milton Keynes. 26th June Three short talks. Cardiff Astronomical Society. 10th July Mars Odyssey, A history of Andy Lound. Planetary Mars observations. Society Birmingham.

7 Cardiff Astronomical Society Program 2002/2003 Please note that while we try not to alter the programme, occasion- ally changes have to be made, sometimes at short notice. We will do our best to inform you in advance, via the newsletter, WEB site or at meetings.

CONSTITUTION 1. NAME The Society shall be named the Cardiff Astronomical Society. 2. AIMS The Society shall be an organization to stimulate public interest in the science of astronomy; to further the knowledge of its members and to promote and conduct research and observations. 3. MEMBERSHIP Membership shall be open to all persons interested in astronomy. 4. SUBSCRIPTIONS The amount of the annual subscription (and any reduction for juniors etc.) shall be proposed by the committee and shall be subject to the approval of the general membership at an Annual general Meeting, or at an Extraordi- nary General Meeting convened for that purpose. 5. FINANCIAL YEAR The financial year of the Society shall commence on March 1st. 6. MEETINGS a) An Annual General Meeting shall be held in the Spring of each year. Such meetings will be devoted primarily to the reports of the officers and the election of Officers for the next session. b) Ordinary meetings shall take place once per fortnight, September to July, at the Society's headquarters, unless the committee should decide other- wise.

7. COMMITTEE a) The committee shall be made up of the following members. President Vice President Chairman

CONSTITUTION continued

Vice Chairman Secretary Assistant Secretary Treasurer Assistant Treasurer Membership Secretary Publications Officer Publicity Officer Librarian Director of Observations Curator of Instruments University Liaison Officer Public Events Organizer Junior Representative Two Ordinary Members b) All officers eligible shall be elected for the ensuing year at the Annual General Meeting c) For each committee meeting, there shall be a quorum which shall be not less than one half of the committee membership. d) The President and Vice President are ex-officio members of the committee. e) The committee shall meet at least once per quarter f) The committee shall be the administrative body of the Society and shall be responsible for its activities. g) Committee members for election shall be proposed and seconded by a Society member. h) No person shall stand for election without his or her prior consent.

8. HEADQUARTERS The headquarters of the Society shall be University of Wales College of Cardiff.

9 RULES 1. The Society shall consist of ORDINARY, HONORARY, JUNIOR (Under 18 years old) and ASSOCIATE members. JUNIOR members under the age 14 years must be accompanied by an adult. ORDINARY, HONORARY and The JUNIOR REPRESENTA- TIVE shall have the right of attending and voting at all meetings of the Society, of proposing candidates for election to the committee, of serving if elected on the committee or in any office of the Society. JUNIOR members have rights as outlined above with respect to the JUNIOR Representative. ORDINARY, HONORARY, JUNIOR members have the right of receiving newsletters and notices issued during their membership. 2. ORDINARY and JUNIOR members shall pay an annual subscription. This shall become due on the first day of September every year. Members whose subscription are in arrears by over three months may be considered for removal from the Society at the discretion of the committee. 3. The management of the Society shall be vested in a committee as stated in 7A of the Constitution. The Chairman is elected to serve for one year with the option of standing for a second. The Chairman will stand down from the position following his/her term of office. The Secretary and Treasurer are not subject to re-election unless desired by the membership (under rule 6), the committee (at a committee meeting or under rule 12), or the incumbent. All other posts to come up for re-election annually, but the incumbent may be re- elected for as many years as the membership, the committee, or the incumbent desires. 4. In addition there shall be two ordinary members who may stand for one year only, after which they must stand down. One year must elapse before they are eligible for re-election. The above members to be elected at appropriate Annual General Meetings. The committee has the right to co-opt members for a special purpose. The committee shall fill any vacancies that may arise until the next Annual General Meeting. The President and Vice President are Ex- officio posts, not subject to election. They may change from time to time at the discretion of the committee, or when the incumbent wishes to be relieved of the post. 5. Before each Annual General Meeting there shall be issued to each

Ordinary and Honorary member of the Society a Newsletter which shall contain the names of such members as may be nominated by the committee to serve on the committee for the following year. Additional nominations may be made by Ordinary members pro- vided that the candidate is supported by not less than two Ordinary members, and that such nominations are received by the Secretary not less than fourteen days before the date of the Annual General Meeting. Minutes shall be kept of committee meetings, Annual General Meetings and Special General Meetings of the Society. 6. The committee shall, upon a requisition signed by not less than ten ORDINARY members of the Society, convene a Special General Meeting of the Society. A notice of the date and object of such a Special General Meeting shall be sent to each member of the Society not less than seven days before such a meeting, and no business shall be considered other than that for which it was convened. 7. The accounts of the Society shall be made up to the last day of February in each year, and audited by one individual excluding any serving member of the committee. 8. In the event of dissolution of the Society, such property or effects shall be disposed of by gift. Such gift shall be for the benefit of astronomy in general and not for the benefit of any individual. The disposal shall be determined by the vote of a Special General Meeting. 9. No rule shall be altered except by the majority vote of the Ordinary members present at a Special General Meeting convened for that purpose. 10. A copy of these rules shall be sent to each ORDINARY member upon election. 11. In the absence of the Chairman and Vice Chairman the committee shall be chaired by an officer elected by the committee. 12. Special meetings of the committee shall be called by not less than three committee members whose names shall appear on the summoning notice, together with the stated reason for the meeting. No minutes shall be read at a Special Meeting, and no business other than that stated on the agenda shall be transacted.

11 TELESCOPES

The Society possesses the following instruments which are available for loan to members. Please contact the Curator of Instruments for further information.

1. 20x70 Binoculars with tripod. 2. 3 inch ƒ16 refracting telescope †. 3. 3¾ inch ƒ12 refracting telescope. 4. 90mm (3½ inch) ƒ5.5 refractor †. 5. 4½ inch ƒ7.3 'Siberia' Newtonian reflecting telescope †. 6. 6 inch ƒ8 open frame Newtonian reflecting telescope †. 7. 6 inch ƒ4 rich field Newtonian reflecting telescope ‡. 8. 6 inch ƒ8 'Siberia' Newtonian reflecting telescope †. 9. 8¾ inch ƒ5.6 'Dark Star' Newtonian reflecting telescope *.

† Equatorial mount. ‡ Alt/Az Mount. * Dobsonian Mount.

In addition the Society also possesses an eight-inch Meade Schmidt-Cassegrain telescope which is for use at observing sessions, and is NOT available for loan to members.

LIBRARY An updated list of books in the library will be published in a forthcoming newsletter, and it is proposed to purchase new titles to fill gaps in the coverage. In the meantime, if you would like to borrow any books, please contact the Librarian at meetings, who will be happy to make them available.

DATA PROTECTION ACT Your membership details are kept on computer. They will only be used for the administration of Cardiff Astronomical Society and not disclosed to anyone who is not a member. However, you have the right to have the information deleted from the computer if you wish.

12 OUR OBSERVING SITES

13 WHERE TO FIND US